Who are we? South Western Railway (SWR) operates over 1,500 services each weekday across the network and employs more than 5,000 people. We provide easy and convenient mobility, connecting people and communities in South West London, southern counties of England, and the Isle of Wight. Join our team and help us continue to improve quality of life, by bringing people together to get the most out of life. SWR is part of FirstGroup, the largest rail operator in the UK and second largest bus operator in the UK outside London. FirstGroup operates services throughout the UK and Ireland, with over 30,000 employees providing services that make travel smoother and life easier. FirstGroup works hard to reduce its impact on the environment, introducing cleaner and more environmentally responsible methods of transport. The South Western Railway Apprenticeship programme has officially achieved the Silver standard from Investors in People for 'We Invest in Apprentices' About the job The aim of the South Western Railway (SWR) Performance Team is to facilitate and improve the delivery of reliable and punctual train services for our customers. Supporting our business and industry partners with accurate data, analysis, and robust performance improvement, the Performance Leadership Apprentice will develop their skills in data analysis, strategy and process, with exposure to all the elements of performance both within SWR, First Group train operating companies, Southern Region and Network Rail Apprenticeship Standard: Level 4 Your main responsibilities will be: Work with the Performance Improvement Specialists, to understand the challenges with performance and action planning associated with resolution and mitigation. Understand the complexities of performance management and interpret the data to create performance improvements. Collaborate with wider performance teams to identify trends to enhance performance for our customers. Work with key stakeholders to understand their needs and foster a culture of improvement. Identify and address inefficiencies in existing processes, recommending innovative solutions for optimisation. Establish industry partnerships through the Performance Improvement Management System (PIMS) and the Risk Management Maturity Model for Performance (RM3P) groups. Understand risk management for performance using a whole system approach. Build relationships with counterparts in other Train Operating Companies (TOCs) and other transport sectors. Leverage these relationships to improve the SWR processes and plans, sharing best practice. Understand the delivery of performance throughout the function, including delay attribution, performance intelligence and delivery of On Time. You'll need: A desire to pursue a career in the railway industry. Flexibility - this apprenticeship may involve early or late shifts and travel to other areas on our network. Excellent communication, with the ability to motivate and inspire a team. Proactive and adaptable approach to problem-solving, with a keen eye for detail. Willingness to undergo training and development to enhance skills and knowledge in the role. A dedication to upholding the company's values and delivering exceptional service to customers As a minimum, you will need to have: GCSE grade 4 or above in English and maths About the location South Western Railways HQ is based on the 4th Floor at South Bank Central, a stone's throw from the River Thames and a 10 minute walk from our busiest station, Waterloo. It is local to many well-known attractions, restaurants and retail facilities and is easily accessible by public transport. Working pattern Working an average of 37 hours per week over 5 days Involves some early and late shifts The Reward In return we offer a competitive salary and a variety of valuable benefits, including: Free duty and leisure travel on SWR services for employees Free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants (criteria dependent) 75% discount on many other train operating companies Full training and support with development Large range of exclusive retail offers Excellent pension scheme Additional Information You will learn to lead smaller projects and/or play a key supporting role in a larger programme - tackling issues that may require swift problem solving, or re-occurring challenges that require in-depth analysis and the implementation of a range of effective and sustainable countermeasures. Typical activities include: Identifying potential opportunities, diagnosing issues, proposing solutions and implementing changes and controls. Coaching teams and sharing best practice. When leading projects they may manage small teams ensuring motivation and momentum, and be responsible for the successful completion of the project. We all belong at SWR. FirstGroup's vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, across its group of businesses, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment. We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent. We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive. We review all roles and s to ensure they are accessible and, where possible, we support and provide flexible working options; we recommend that you refer to each vacancy description for further details. If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below. We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply. https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/ https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/